A Summer's Day Hexie Embroidered Tablerunner

Would you describe how you felt when you first started sewing? I started out sewing my own clothes which I absolutely loved doing. Wearing something that I’d made was such an achievement. I loved the whole process. I mainly made dresses and shirts as they seemed the easiest. Then I made my children’s clothes for a few years. It wasn’t until later on that I discovered quilting and I’ve never looked back.

Has your response to your craft changed much since then? It sure has. I love to sew every day: I take a few minutes to sew some hexagons together or sit at my machine and piece a block for a special project. People ask me where I find the time and I say, “When you love something enough, you make the time.” 

What is it that keeps you creating? Definitely the new fabrics that come out all the time. As soon as I see a pretty fabric, I start thinking of something I can make with it. I love soft floral fabrics and pretty pastel colours. I always seem to make quilts with those.

What’s your favourite time of day to sew? For me, it’s the mornings, mainly because I work in the afternoons. I have a good routine going at home: I get all my chores done, do the school drop-off, then I allow myself two hours of straight sewing before I leave for work. I also love to sew early on the weekends when everyone else in my house is still sleeping.

Do you teach your skills? I do teach a beginners’ patchwork class. It’s so much fun seeing my students get all enthusiastic and excited over a fun project. I’ve taught several different classes and I enjoy it so much.

How long can you spend browsing in a patchwork/haberdashery store? I need at least an hour to have a good look around. Sometimes it depends on how much money I can spend on the day – if it’s lots, then I can look for ages. Sometimes I try to only buy something if I need it, but really, that doesn’t happen very often. Just recently I bought some new fabrics with no plan at all. I know they are there, so I’ll keep thinking about them until I come up with a new design for them.

What are your five favourite craft blogs? Nanacompany, A Spoonful of Sugar,A Quilting Life, Tied with a Ribbon and Jenny of Elefantz.

What do you wish for your creative future? Like most quilters, I wish for more time to sew and create. I hope I never run out of ideas and most of all, I hope I inspire others to sew and make heirlooms of their own.

Leanne Milsom, Quilting by Patchworks Plus